WATCH: Allstate Sugar Bowl and National Football Foundation honor local scholar-athletes

Annual Luncheon Recognizes 32 New Orleans High School Football Players

NEW ORLEANS – The Allstate Sugar Bowl Chapter of the National Football Foundation/College Football Hall of Fame held its 2024 Awards Luncheon on Thursday afternoon at the Audubon Tea Room. The highlight of the event was the announcement of the winners of five college scholarships from the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

Thirty-two local high school football players were recognized for their achievements in the classroom, in the community and on the football field. The honorees were chosen from a group of nominated scholar athletes from the New Orleans area. Each of the 32 student athletes was introduced individually with their accomplishments highlighted at the event. From that group of 32, five were selected to receive Allstate Sugar Bowl Scholarships: four for $10,000 and one for $20,000 each. The scholarship winners were chosen based on essays submitted after being notified of their selection as scholar-athletes.

“First of all, congratulations to all the scholar athletes in attendance today for their hard work in the classroom, in the community AND on the football field,” said Sugar Bowl President Walter Becker. “While all 32 of our scholar-athletes represent a high level of achievement, it is our distinct honor to recognize five student-athletes with Allstate Sugar Bowl Scholarships based on their accomplishments and the essays they submitted.”

Nathan Lousteau from Archbishop Rummel High School was the recipient of the $20,000 Oliver Delery Scholarship, named for the Sugar Bowl Committee-member and past president who passed away in 2020. The $10,000 scholarships were awarded to Dagan Bruno (John Curtis Christian School), Quinn Eden (Thomas Jefferson Academy), Benjamin Harrison (Northlake Christian School), and Dallas Hughes (Sophie B. Wright Charter School).

In addition to the high school honorees, two sports industry leaders were recognized for their contributions to the community and the sport of football.

Ron Brocato, a New Orleans native who is regarded as the preeminent historian on high school sports in the New Orleans area and is one of the foremost experts on prep sports in Louisiana, was presented with the Contributions to Amateur Football Award, which is given annually to an individual for his or her effort to promote the game, preserve its history and ensure its future. His sports coverage has encompassed much beyond preps during his six decades in the field. He worked for the New Orleans States-Item and later the Times-Picayune, until 1987, and now serves as sports editor for the Clarion Herald, the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. During his career, Brocato has won several awards for headline and feature writing, columns and photography. In 2011, he earned the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame’s Distinguished Service Award in Sports Journalism – it’s recognized as the most prestigious honor offered to sports media personnel in Louisiana. He was also inducted into the Louisiana High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. Brocato has also served the Louisiana High School Athletic Association as media coordinator for the state football championship games in the Superdome for the past 29 years.

The executive director of the College Football Playoff (CFP), Bill Hancock, was presented with the Distinguished American Award, which is presented each year to an individual who has set the standard for a life of service to the community and has made a significant contribution to the betterment of amateur football. Hancock has achieved a unique trifecta at the highest echelon of intercollegiate athletics. He was the first full-time director of the NCAA Final Four, the first executive director of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), and the first executive director of the College Football Playoff (CFP). Hancock’s five-decade career began in 1971 at the University of Oklahoma. He spent 16 years with the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, 13 years as its director. In 2005, he was appointed administrator of the BCS. He became executive director in 2009 and was named to the same role for the playoff when it was created in 2012. Hancock has served on the United States Olympic Committee staff at 15 Olympic Games and two Pan American Games. In June 2023, Hancock announced that he will step down when his current contract with the CFP expires in February 2025.

The New Orleans Chapter of the National Football Foundation was established in 1971. The Sugar Bowl took over sponsorship of the chapter in 2000 and since then it has recognized over 600 student-athletes while distributing over $700,000 in scholarship money.

2023-24 National Football Foundation Scholar Athletes (alphabetical by high school):

Nolan Byers (Archbishop Hannan High School)

Academic Achievements: National Honor Society; Principal’s honor roll every year. Athletic Achievements: Three-year letterman; two-year team captain; all-state; all-parish; three-time all-district; also lettered for three years in powerlifting; division record holder for squat (715 pounds). Extracurricular Activities: Hannan Student of the Year; student ambassadors; Homecoming Court. Will play football at the United States Air Force Academy.

Darrius Davis (Archbishop Rummel High School)

Academic Achievements: National Honor Society. Athletic Achievements: Three-year letterman; two-year team captain; two-time Player of the Week; Greater New Orleans QB Club Scholar Athlete of the Week; WGNO Scholar Athlete of the Week; team’s leading tackler as a junior but battled injuries as a senior; also lettered in basketball. Extracurricular Activities: Big Brother. Will play football at Stanford.

Nathan Lousteau (Archbishop Rummel High School)

Academic Achievements: National English Honor Society; President’s Education Award. Athletic Achievements: Three-year letterman; two-year team captain. Extracurricular Activities: Chess Club; student newspaper editor; Big Brother. Attending Loyola University.

Raymond Howard (Archbishop Shaw High School)

Academic Achievements: Mu Alpha Theta (President); National Honor Society (Vice President); Spanish National Honor Society; Outstanding Academic Performance in theology, earth science, and English language arts. Athletic Achievements: Four-year letterman and starter; team captain; also lettered for three years in wrestling; two-time all-district in both sports; all-state in both sports; two-time heavyweight state finalist in wrestling. Extracurricular Activities: Giving Hope Food Bank Volunteer; Student Government. Will play football at the United States Air Force Academy.

Thomas Gross III (Benjamin Franklin High School)

Academic Achievements: National Honor Society; multiple academic scholarships. Athletic Achievements: Three-year letterman; two-time team captain; team MVP; Scholar Award; Courage Award, Leadership Award; also lettered in track qualifying for the state indoor meet. Extracurricular Activities: Service projects for National Honor Society; Black Culture Club; Gaming Club. Undecided on college choice.

Julian Price (Bonnabel High School)

Academic Achievements: Honor roll all 4 years; Entourage (men’s leadership group). Athletic Achievements: Four-year letterman; team captain; two-time all-district; two-time Offensive Player of the Year; also lettered in track and field. Extracurricular Activities: New Hope Community Outreach Youth Program. Will play football at Memphis.

Balpreet Parmar (Brother Martin High School)

Academic Achievements: Principal’s Honor Roll 4.0 or above (5 years). Athletic Achievements: Five-year letterman; team captain; Football Team Award; named Offensive Lineman of the Week multiple times; also lettered in track and field and powerlifting. Extracurricular Activities: Church volunteer. Will attend Tulane University.

Ethan Couvillon (Chalmette High School)

Academic Achievements: Honor Roll. Athletic Achievements: Three-year letterman; team captain; all-district; two-time team MVP; district champion; three-time Manning Futures recipient; led Chalmette to just the second 10-win season in school history; set school season and career records for passing yards and touchdowns. Extracurricular Activities: Started his own grass-cutting business. Will attend LSU.

Timothy Maxson (De La Salle High School)

Academic Achievements: Four years on the Honor Roll. Athletic Achievements: Four-year letterman; three-year starter; team captain; two-time all-district; all-state; also lettered in track and field; district champ in both the shot put and the discus. Extracurricular Activities: Big Brother; church youth group. Will play football at Southeast Missouri State.

Evan Phillips (Fisher Middle/High School)

Academic Achievements: Honor Roll and Principal’s List his entire four years. Athletic Achievements: Four-year letterman and starter; two-year team captain; two-time all-district; also a four-year letterman in both baseball and basketball. Extracurricular Activities: Internship with Carpenter & Patterson; Special Olympics volunteer. Will attend Delgado.

Tory Pinkney, Jr. (George Washington Carver High School)

Academic Achievements: Four years of high honors; Top-5 in class; three-time Student of the Year. Athletic Achievements: Four-year letterman and starter; team captain; team MVP; led team in receiving twice; also lettered in track and field for four years. Extracurricular Activities: Peer Tutoring President; Student Council; Student Body Hiring Committee. Will attend St. Olaf College in Minnesota.

Krosse Johnson (Holy Cross School)

Academic Achievements: Honor Roll. Athletic Achievements: Three-year letterman; all-district; all-metro; all-state honorable mention; Clarion Herald Elite Team; Perseverance Award after returning from injury; also lettered in track and field. Extracurricular Activities: Team Leadership Council. Will play football at the University of Arkansas.

Peter Loop (Isidore Newman School)

Academic Achievements: Newman Scholar; First Honor Roll. Athletic Achievements: Four-year letterman; two-time all-district; all-metro; led the team with 39 receptions for 790 yards and 12 TDs as a senior; school-record 27.3 yards per catch; also lettered in baseball and served as a team captain. Extracurricular Activities: Co-founder Bee the Change Nola Club; volunteer tree planter. Will play football at SMU.

Tucker Schibler (Jesuit High School)

Academic Achievements: National Honor Society; National Merit Semifinalist; New Orleans Quarterback Club Scholar Athlete; Friday Night Football Scholar Athlete; First Honor Roll every semester. Athletic Achievements: Three-year letterman; team captain; Team Leadership Committee; led team in tackles, three-time Player of the Game; helped Blue Jays to state runner-up finish in 2021. Extracurricular Activities: Counselor at Camp Smile; Responsibility House volunteer; food pantry volunteer; Vacation Bible School; youth camps volunteer; Hams for Fams; Big Brother Program. Deciding between Northeastern, Santa Clara, and Villanova.

Dagan Bruno (John Curtis Christian School)

Academic Achievements: National Honor Society; Honor Scholar; George Eastman Young Leaders Award; Academic All State; English III and Spanish I Departmental Awards. Athletic Achievements: Four-year letterman; two-year team captain; all-district; all-metro MVP; all-state; state champion and MVP of state championship game; also a four-year letterman in basketball and baseball. Extracurricular Activities: Key Club; Spirit Club; baseball and football summer camps counselor. Will play football at Tulane.

Lance Rumbelow (Kenner Discovery High School)

Academic Achievements: Honors Curriculum; Tulane Scholarship Award recipient; National Honor Society. Athletic Achievements: Four-year letterman; first-team all-district; Swamp Owl Award as team MVP; selected to play in the gridiron football all-star game; selected to play in Louisiana vs. Arkansas battle of the border game; also lettered in soccer and track, earning all-district in both. Extracurricular Activities: Vacation Bible School volunteer; youth sports camp volunteer. Will play football at Calumet College of Saint Joseph in Indiana.

Thai Brown (McDonogh 35 High School)

Academic Achievements: Honor Roll for four years; National Honor Society; perfect GPA. Athletic Achievements: Three-year letterman and starter; two-year team captain; two-time all-district; all-state; also lettered in basketball and track. Extracurricular Activities: FCA. Will play football at Dartmouth College.

Peyton McFarland (McDonogh 35 High School)

Academic Achievements: Honor Roll all four years; National Honor Society. Athletic Achievements: Three-year letterman; two-year team captain; three-time all-district; three-time all-state; also lettered in track and powerlifting. Will play football at Grambling State.

Benjamin Harrison (Northlake Christian School)

Academic Achievements: National Honor Society; Straight A Honor Roll all four years; AP Scholar; Patriots Pen Essay Winner; WWL A+ Scholar-Athlete. Athletic Achievements: Four-year letterman; three-year team captain; two-time all-district; District Defensive MVP; Northshore All-Area Team; also lettered in powerlifting and was the state champion in the 198-pound weight class for Division IV. Extracurricular Activities: Student Leadership Council; Student Ambassador; Praise Band Guitarist; STEM Team; Eagle Scout, student tutor; Christian Leadership Award. Will attend South Alabama.

Gavin Krone (Northlake Christian School)

Academic Achievements: A/B Honor Roll; Wolverine Scholar Club. Athletic Achievements: Four-year letterman; team captain; two-time all-district; also lettered in track, baseball, and powerlifting; qualified for state championship in the discus; also competed at the State Powerlifting Meet. Extracurricular Activities: Leadership Council; Student Events Leadership Committee Lead; Camp Northlake Counselor; School Ambassador; Sports Analytics Club. Will play football at Southern Nazarene University.

Chase Mizell (Northlake Christian School)

Academic Achievements: All A Honor Roll all four years; Literary Rally; ACSI Distinguished Christian High School Student; National Honor Society. Athletic Achievements: Four-year letterman; two-year team captain; four-time all-district; all-state; Team MVP;  also starred in soccer earning all-district, all-metro, and all-parish. Extracurricular Activities: STEM Club; Praise Team, student tutor; Vacation Bible School volunteer, youth soccer coach. Will play soccer at Spring Hill College.

Ethan Tran (Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy)

Academic Achievements: Principal’s Honor Roll; National Honor Society. Athletic Achievements: Four-year letterman; four-year team captain; two-time all-district; all-metro; also lettered for six years in basketball and four years in track and field; two-time all-district in basketball; Patrick Taylor’s Male Athlete of the Year. Extracurricular Activities: Big Brother; Student Council President. Will attend Millsaps.

Trey Turnage (Pearl River High School)

Academic Achievements: Honor Roll all four years. Athletic Achievements: Five-year letterman; two-year team captain; two-time all-district; three-time winner of the Defensive Coaches Award; also lettered in baseball, soccer and basketball; was an all-district pitcher with a 5-1 record and a 2.71 ERA as a junior. Extracurricular Activities: FCA. Will be playing baseball at Delgado.

Joseph Whitehouse (Pope John Paul II Catholic High School)

Academic Achievements: National Honor Society; Principal’s Honor Roll every quarter; Spencer Coe Engineering Scholarship. Athletic Achievements: Five-year letterman; team captain; two-time all-district; all-state; also lettered in soccer for five years and served as a team captain; helped team to four district championships and the 2021 state championship. Extracurricular Activities: Liturgy Team; Catholic Athletes for Christ; CAC Spiritual Chair; Student Council; school ambassador, Keep Slidell Beautiful volunteer; Cub Scout, PJP Football and Soccer Camps. Will attend Villanova.

Elio Bejaran (St. Martin’s Episcopal School)

Academic Achievements: National Honor Society; Senior Class President. Athletic Achievements: Four-year letterman; team captain; two-time all-district; Team Co-Defensive MVP; also lettered in track and field and was the state champion in the javelin as a junior. Extracurricular Activities: Campus volunteer. Will attend Loyola University.

Dominic Hogan (St. Martin’s Episcopal School)

Academic Achievements: Honor Roll every semester of high school. Athletic Achievements: Four-year letterman; four-year starter; team captain; two-time all-district; two-time Team Defensive MVP. Extracurricular Activities: Church volunteer. Will attend LSU. 

Austin South (Saint Paul’s School)

Academic Achievements: Gold Honor Roll; Principal’s Academic Award; Community Service Award; Golden Torch Award for academic excellence and meaningful extracurricular impact; National Honor Society; Mu Alpha Theta. Athletic Achievements: Four-year letterman; all-district; district champion; Academic All-State; also lettered in track & field. Extracurricular Activities: Miracle League; Special Olympics volunteer; camp counselor; Lasallian Youth Leaders/Eucharistic Minister. Will attend LSU.

Damon Narcisse (Salmen High School)

Academic Achievements: 2023-2024 Salmen Student of the Year; Honor Roll all four years. Athletic Achievements: Four-year letterman; team captain; two-time all-district on offense and defense; all-parish; all-state; District Defensive MVP; team MVP; Iron Man Award, Team Leadership Council. Extracurricular Activities: Elementary school reading program. Will play football at Georgetown University.

Joshua Haaga (Slidell High School)

Academic Achievements: Honor Roll all four years; Beta Club; Student of the Year Nominee; Academic All-State. Athletic Achievements: Three-year letterman; team captain; all-district; district champion 2022; Patrick O’Malley Adversity & Perseverance Award. Extracurricular Activities: FCA; Tiger Teammates; Special Olympics volunteer; church volunteer. Will attend Southeastern Louisiana University.

Dallas Hughes (Sophie B. Wright Charter School)

Academic Achievements: Honor Roll every semester; President of the National Honor Society; WWL A+ Athlete Award; ranks No. 2 in his class. Athletic Achievements: Four-year letterman; two-year team captain; two-time all-district; all-metro; also lettered in track and was the regional champ in the 400-meter dash; track team captain. Extracurricular Activities: School drum major; volunteer with Father’s House Kids organization; Women’s Shelter Toy Drive. Will play football at Louisiana Tech.

Osirin Scott (Sophie B. Wright Charter School)

Academic Achievements: Honor Roll every semester; National Honor Society. Athletic Achievements: Four-year letterman; two-year team captain; two-time all-district first team; also lettered in track and baseball. Extracurricular Activities: NORD; Feed the Homeless. Deciding between Nicholls and University of Louisiana.

Quinn Eden (Thomas Jefferson Academy)

Academic Achievements: Top 10 Class Rank; National Honor Society; Honor Roll. Athletic Achievements: Four-year letterman; two-year team captain; two-time all-district; Best Defensive Lineman Award; also lettered in baseball for four years; Westbank Quarterback Club Outstanding Athlete Award. Extracurricular Activities: Part-Time Job; Special Olympics volunteer. Will attend LSU.

The Allstate Sugar Bowl has established itself as one of the premier college football bowl games, having hosted 29 national champions, 107 Hall of Fame players, 52 Hall of Fame coaches and 21 Heisman Trophy winners in its 90-year history. The 91st Allstate Sugar Bowl Football Classic, which will double as a College Football Playoff Quarterfinal, is scheduled to be played on January 1, 2025. In addition to football, the Sugar Bowl Committee annually invests over $1 million into the community through the hosting and sponsorship of sporting events, awards, scholarships and clinics. Through these efforts, the organization supports and honors thousands of student-athletes each year, while injecting over $2.5 billion into the local economy in the last decade. For more information, visit www.AllstateSugarBowl.org.